The Hindu : What they said

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 01, 2003

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

What they said

By Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI APRIL 30. If one is to believe that there is a lack of education among Indian athletes about doping, rower Laxman Singh's assertion could be the prime example.

After deposing before the Anti-Doping Commission of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) here on Wednesday, Laxman Singh said that he never knew that such medical checks were done in sports.

"I am from a small Punjab village and I took up rowing only recently. I never knew they (IOA Anti-Doping Commission) would take urine samples during competitions,'' Laxman told mediapersons.

Then, Andhra cyclist Nijappa Yenteth tried to explain that he has two types of signatures. He, in fact, seemed to have convinced the Commission about the two types of signatures.

But Yenteth evaded the question when asked for what purpose he signs differently.

He, of course, explained the D-Cold theory, for his stimulant violation. Everyone who tests positive for epedrine, pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine takes the easy way out by blaming it on cold medications. That has been the practice the world over.

Why did he not mention it in the Dope Control Form, which he had signed? No answer was forthcoming.

Yenteth said that his coach gave him `some medicine' and he was not aware of what it actually contained.

Surprisingly, P. Udaya Laxmi, who had raised quite a storm the past few days, accusing officials of backing doping, decided to keep quiet. "Let them (IOA) make the decision and then I will speak,'' was what Laxmi had to say before leaving the IOA office.

Maharashtra sprinter Kavita Pandya said she would take legal recourse as and when the IOA announced its decision.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport